PGL has offices and remote workers in the Traditional Territories—both treatied and unceded—of several Indigenous Nations in what is now called Canada.
In response to the 2015 Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), PGL has committed to Specific Actions to acknowledge past and ongoing wrongs and move forward in a good way.
Our full Commitment to (Re)Conciliation is a living document, written to grow and change as we unlearn past narratives and learn how to do better. The current version of the document is available on request. A summary of our Commitments is provided below.
Acknowledgments of Truth
PGL acknowledges:
The truth that settler colonialism was and is based on the dispossession of lands and resources from Indigenous Peoples and that our company profits from the structure of a settler colonial system.
The genocidal intentions and acts of Canadian governments and the ongoing harms of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples. Settler colonial actions have not treated the people, animals, land, water, and air with respect, and this has resulted in irreparable harm to Indigenous peoples and their ways of life.
The diversity of perspectives of Indigenous individuals and that the very term "reconciliation” implies reconciling a previously amicable relationship that may never have existed—hence the adoption here of (re)conciliation.
That individuals within the PGL community will have unique lived experiences and learning journeys in the context of the historic and current relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians that a single company commitment cannot capture.
Guiding Principles
Our Guiding Principles, which are described in detail in our Commitment to (Re)Conciliation, inform PGL’s philosophy and shall be taken into consideration as and when we encounter relevant situations.
In all things, we will:
Endeavour to act in ways that respect Indigenous Peoples, Cultures, and Rights.
Unlearn, learn, and reflect on worldviews and look beyond Eurocentric teachings.
Commitments to Action
The Commitments to Action listed below are corporate policies or processes that PGL has in place or has set in motion to advance (re)conciliation, arising with significant consideration to the many calls to action in:
Inform staff of their right to excuse themselves from projects or corporate initiatives that they feel are inconsistent with PGL’s commitments to (re)conciliation.
Establish a process to enable PGL Leadership to intervene where work is inconsistent with principles of (re)conciliation.
Relevant Calls to which this Commitment Responds
Calls to Action 92(i)
Calls to Natural Scientists 1
Calls for Justice 1.2, 4.2
Supporting Economic (Re)conciliation
Explore economic development for local Indigenous individuals, groups, or businesses in all projects
Conduct annual reviews to identify and remove barriers to employment at PGL.
Commission Indigenous artwork for our winter holiday card.
Advocate for equitable distribution of benefit in any case where we have a role to play in the development of Agreements with Indigenous Groups.
Relevant Calls to which this Commitment Responds
Calls to Action 92(ii)
Calls to Natural Scientists 2, 3, 5
Calls for Justice 13.1
Working in the Natural Resources Sector
When involved in negotiations or Environmental Impact Assessments in this sector:
Consider safety, security, and equity of benefits for Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
Include gender-based analysis in decision-making and monitoring.
Seek personal and professional opportunities to advocate for project accommodations that expand social infrastructure and services.
Relevant Calls to which this Commitment Responds
Calls to Action 92
Calls for Justice 15
Ongoing Awareness & Change
We recognize that times will change, and our efforts may require new priorities or ideas.
PGL is committed to annually revisiting our (re)conciliation action. We will achieve this commitment by linking it to our Annual Company Meeting every November.
The above text is drawn from PGL’s Guiding Principles and Actions to Support Reconciliation, which was written in 2023, revised in 2024, and reviewed in 2025.
Annual Art Commission
As part of our commitment to supporting (re)conciliation and the work of Indigenous artists, PGL commissions original artwork for our annual winter holiday card. All commissions comply the recommended fee schedule of Canadian Artists Representation – Le Front Des Artistes Canadien. The original of each work is on display in PGL’s offices.
